This Blog's purpose is to offer information about congregations voting to leave the ELCA. Pastor Barnhart's other Blog offers information about current news events relating to the Church and the nation. It may be found here: http://livinginthetimes.blogspot.com/

Friday, January 22, 2010

Over 100 congregations have successfully voted to withdraw from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since August 2009, when they voted to include practicing homosexuals on their clergy roster. The process requires two votes, at least 90 days apart. * Indicates first vote; ** indicates second vote. Please inform us if you know of corrections or additions to this list. We know of several other congregations that will be voting in the coming weeks, and we will be revising the list.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Since 9/11 the government of the United States has sought to approach the war on terror by using politically correct policies and politically correct terms. The situation was questionable under the Bush administration, but totally impossible under the present Obama administration.

We are bewildered by government officials' use of such terms as "man-caused disasters" or "overseas contingency operations," but such terms pale when compared to a recent report on the Fort Hood terrorist attack. At an official news conference on the Fort Hood killings, it was stated that the problem with “self-radicalizationin the military was not rooted in Islam. " That, my friends, is the reason we are in such trouble and may never win the war on terror.

Al-Quaeda, Hamas, Hezbolah and every other terrorist organization, as well as the radicalized governments in Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Yeman etc. all have their roots in Islam. They are not Presbyterians, Methodists or Baptists. They are Muslims. The terrorists and all radicalized Muslim nations are all, without exception, rooted and grounded in Islam. Moderate Muslims who do not advocate violence are not taking their directives from the Qu'ran or Islamic teachings, but from their own modified views of what Islam ought to be and what it officially teaches. Strict Islam is what the radicalized Muslims believe and put into practice in order to justify violence against Israel, the United States and even other Muslims. Until the US government gets this, we have not a chance to win the war on terror, here or anywhere else.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

David Zillmer, bishop of the South Dakota Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, told a gathering recently that he has no plans to lead his synod out of the ELCA, even though he strongly disagrees with its policies on homosexual clergy. This leaves the ELCA folks in South Dakota with three choices: (1) Lead their own congregations out; (2) Get out on their own; (3) stay with the bishop and compromise the Word of God by giving loyalty to a denomation rather than to Jesus Christ.

Friday, January 8, 2010

Employees and retirees at a Minneapolis publishing company learned their retirement benefits will end March 1.Augsburg Fortress is the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.The publisher sent letters to hundreds of employees and retirees last week.Former employee Karen Walhof said the letter stated that as of Dec. 31 the company owned members more than $24 million, but only had a third of the money in assets. If the company kept paying out monthly benefits, the plan would run out of money in five years.Augsburg Fortress blamed the money problems on fewer book sales, shrinking ELCA congregations and increasing competition on the internet.Walhof, who worked for the company for 20 years and could lose a couple hundred thousand dollars, said, "I think it's legally defensible as the letter explains, but morally repugnant."Most people under the plan will receive some type of lump sum payment, depending on their years of service.The CEO of Augsburg Fortress said "these decisions break our hearts and we apologize, but they are necessary."According to the company the ELCA has no obligations to help with its financial problems because it's separate from any plan sponsored by the church.http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1343931.shtml?cat=1

Saturday, January 2, 2010

One does not need to be a prophet to know that our government's attitude to Islamic radicals who have declared war on America will soon bring about a tremendous disaster to this country that will cost many lives. Then it will be too late to say, "I told you so!" So I am telling you now! Wake up America. Read Krauthammer's take on this situation.

About Me

David Barnhart received a Bachelor’s degree in education from Clarion State University, Clarion, Pa., and a Masters of Divinity degree from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC. Ordained by the Lutheran Church in America in 1964, he pastored churches in that denomination for 20 years. In 1984, Pastor Barnhart withdrew from the Lutheran Church in America and united with the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations (AFLC). He establish Abiding Word Ministries (AWM) in that same year. Abiding Word Ministries, now in its 27th year, exists to promote revival and reformation throughout the Church. Pastor Barnhart publishes a newsletter called The Vine and Branches which is mailed to approximately 7500 homes throughout the United States and Canada. AWM counsels pastors, congregations and laity who desire to take their stand against false teachings and unbiblical practices within their church bodies.